Hopkinsville City Council Passes First Reading for Water Rate Increase

An ordinance gradually raising water bills about 31 percent in Hopkinsville is set for the city council’s approval.

Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority General Manager Derrick Watson says the ordinance which spreads the increase over three years unanimously passed its first reading at Tuesday’s city council meeting. Watson says if the increase passes its second reading the additional revenue will go toward projects in Hopkinsville.

“Right now we actually have a deficiency on our storage capacity in the Hopkinsville system," Watson says. "So by building another tank we hope to correct that deficiency and then the water mains are simply in order to provide service around our bypass and better water pressure and delivery along U.S. 41A.”

The first increase would take effect Jan. 1, 2014 and would increase the average customer’s bill by about $2. The other two increases will be for approximately the same amount on the same date in 2015 and 2016. The second reading for the increase is set for July 16.